Back to Chaos. Shanghai. QuickTweet (QT)
25 Sep
Left order of the Beijing airport. To chaos of Shanghai. Harmony was short lived…
(Picture taken outside my hotel window. Fifth floor. )
Not sure where I am. The hotel clerk told me “no map available. Wait til store opens at 5:00 pm.” It’s 9:30 pm. Hotel store still closed. No worries..went out on my own. Still don’t know where I am.
Was hungry. Looking for a food market. But, walked into a “fast” food Chinese restaurant. Saw a picture outside. Looked encouraging. Stood in line. Felt anxious. What am I ordering. Little, old Chinese lady points to a picture. The only picture. I nod. Look down. Grab 10 Yan (less than $2). Sat down. Let’s see what I get..
All eyes on me. Felt them. Not another anglo, shocking-white, 6 foot girl in the place. Dumplings arrive. Looks like the picture. Three Chinese girls at next table order the same. Watch them out of corner of my eye. How do you eat these things? I want sauce, but what type? I mimicked them. They giggled.
Next, chop sticks. Don’t have coordination. Never used them before.. Had to eat very, very slow. Good for me, considering I use a fork as a shovel. Dumplings were fab. Only one dropped into my lap. Random meat. Random sauce. Random chop sticks. Found my way back to my hotel. I’m on a side street. It’s LOUD. I think there’s a moped parking lot next to our hotel. Alarms are going off.
My new roomie comes tomorrow. I’ve signed up for another backpacker, “I can’t afford a hot meal” tour with Gap Adventures. Means, I share a room with a random. It’s so nice to have a night to myself. I’ve been sharing space with others for weeks now… I’m really starting to hate people. I’m in China too… Not a good place to be. Hate being around a lot of people while in China. Not good.
Need to plan Thailand…I’m rethinking end of Oct and November…In China for 2.5 weeks and then go to Bhutan to hike through monasteries for another 14 days… Need to slow down. Sit. Looking for yoga, spiritual retreat in Thailand where all I do is sit in silence, stretch and ween the bod off of bread, beer, yogurt and dumplings… Any ideas out there?
Like I said, I saw Fannie today….she told me where NOT to go in China. There is some place she hates. But she said she hopes you find a great spa…..where ever that is located! Good luck…you need it! I can’t imagine eating like that, being watched, by myself. I would starve….or atleast ask for a fork. Can you find a plastic one and bring it with you while you are in the Asian countries! you are resourceful…you can do it! 🙂